The first skid steer was invented by two brothers in 1957. The first vehicle was designed to help clear out their turkey barn; their applications have come a long way since this time. More and more organizations recognize the value a skid steer can bring to their business. They’re an effective addition to your machinery at your salvage facility or junk hard due to the versatility they offer.
What is a Skid Steer?
Skid steer loaders are one of the smaller construction vehicles that are used for a wide variety of tasks. They usually have a bucket are their default attachment, but you can easily fit them with different attachments to suit your business and the work in question. They’re a popular choice for organizations that do not need or have the capacity for a large range of heavy plant machinery yet still require additional mechanical help for some tasks.
Skid steers run on rubber tracks and get their name from the way they turn. Skid steer tracks are fixed and can only point in one direction. To turn, you need to steer each side independently. You cannot steer by angling the tracks in different directions, and instead, you need to speed up the left or right side of the vehicle causing the “skid” that gives the vehicle its name.
Skid Steer Sizes
Skid steers come in different sizes, though all are relatively small when compared to heavier plant equipment. A skid steers size is measured by not only its dimensions but also its weight, capacity, and power. The rated operating capacity (ROC) is a key metric for measuring the capabilities of a skid steer. The ROC measures how heavy a load the skid steer can lift without tipping.
The right vehicle size for your business will depend on the tasks you have in mind. Smaller models are ideal for compact jobs and getting into tight spaces, such as interior demolition or interior construction. They’re also a great choice for precision work. A mid-size skid steer is still a small and lightweight option but offers more power and capacity than a smaller vehicle. With the right attachments, they can be a great choice for excavation and digging work where larger vehicles, e.g. a backhoe, wouldn’t fit. Larger skid steers still feel compact when compared to other industrial vehicles, yet they can perform a range of large-scale tasks from demolition to road building. All skid steers have the added bonus of easily maneuvering through tight spaces; something salvage yard owners will particularly value.
Utilizing Skid Steers in Auto Salvage
Auto salvage yards are packed full of valuable and not so valuable parts. A small-to-medium-sized skid steer is a great piece of kit for transporting and moving parts as required. They’ve become more commonly used in recycling and material handling environments, and they are a versatile tool to add to the machinery available at a salvage yard.
The versatility a skid steer brings to your junkyard business is significant, and they can make operating your salvage facility much more straightforward. A skid steer is a great investment rather than relying on a range of expensive industrial vehicles or investing in different machinery for different tasks.